The Director-General, Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (WCCIMA), Weyinmi Eribo has disclosed that the chamber trained 2,635 women entrepreneurs in one year.
Eribo disclosed this in an interview with Daily Sun as part of activities marking the chamber’s one year of operations on Wednesday.
She disclosed that the women entrepreneurs were equipped with the skills and confidence needed to succeed in furtherance of the chamber’s capacity-building efforts.
“As we celebrate our first anniversary, WCCIMA reflects on a year of growth, empowerment, and transformation for women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. Through our four strategic pillars, we have made significant strides in equipping women with the necessary knowledge, tools, networks, and resources to thrive.
“In Capacity Building, we hosted 15 events, training over 2,635 women entrepreneurs and equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed. For Access to Markets, we have organized and participated in seven trade fairs, B2B meetings, and exhibitions both locally and internationally, connecting about 110 entrepreneurs to buyers, distributors, and partners. On the Access to Finance front, we secured a trade facilitation grant from UNDP and forged partnerships with financial institutions to bridge the funding gap for women-led businesses.
“In Advocacy, we have hosted and attended several programs, engaging over 585 women in discussions on policy reforms, inclusive economic growth, and creating business-friendly environments.
“In addition, we have championed women’s transition to renewable energy and sustainable practices in line with the global movement on climate actions to reduce overall global emission footprints,” she disclosed.
Eribo noted that the chamber’s membership has grown steadily over the past year as it has designed programs tailored to the diverse needs of women entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journey.
Read full interview below:
What is WCCIMA, and what are the mission and vision of the chamber?
The Women Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (WCCIMA) is a transformative organization dedicated to advancing the economic empowerment of women in Nigeria. Building on a nearly two-decade legacy as NAWORG under the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA), WCCIMA has evolved into a specialized platform championing women’s inclusion in commerce, industry, and agriculture.
Our mission is to empower women entrepreneurs by providing access to finance, tailored capacity-building programs, market linkages, and robust policy advocacy. WCCIMA aims to position women as leaders and innovators in the economic landscape through fostering innovation, reducing gender inequalities, and promoting sustainable growth.
Aligned with global priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), WCCIMA focuses on SDGs 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 17. These goals reflect our commitment to gender equality, inclusive economic growth, innovation, responsible consumption, and climate action. Through strategic programs, advocacy, and collaborations, we create opportunities for women to break barriers, thrive in all sectors, and contribute to a gender-inclusive business environment.
With deep roots in NACCIMA and a forward-looking vision, WCCIMA serves as a dynamic voice and catalyst for women’s economic development in Nigeria and beyond; leveraging strategic partnerships and building on our rich history, we aim to shape a future where women-owned businesses not only succeed but also drive transformative change in commerce and industry on national and international stages.
Through our four strategic pillars—Capacity Building, Access to Finance, Access to Markets, and Advocacy—WCCIMA is committed to empowering women to lead, influence, and shape the narrative of business for generations to come.
It’s the first anniversary of this chamber. What key achievements has WCCIMA accomplished in its first year?
As we celebrate our first anniversary, WCCIMA reflects on a year of growth, empowerment, and transformation for women entrepreneurs across Nigeria. Through our four strategic pillars, we have made significant strides in equipping women with the necessary knowledge, tools, networks, and resources to thrive.
In Capacity Building, we hosted 15 events, training over 2,635 women entrepreneurs and equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed. For Access to Markets, we have organized and participated in seven trade fairs, B2B meetings, and exhibitions both locally and internationally, connecting about 110 entrepreneurs to buyers, distributors, and partners. On the Access to Finance front, we secured a trade facilitation grant from UNDP and forged partnerships with financial institutions to bridge the funding gap for women-led businesses.
In Advocacy, we have hosted and attended several programs, engaging over 585 women in discussions on policy reforms, inclusive economic growth, and creating business-friendly environments. In addition, we have championed women’s transition to renewable energy and sustainable practices in line with the global movement on climate actions to reduce overall global emission footprints.
Beyond these achievements, WCCIMA has established over 25 partnerships with local and international organizations, extended its membership reach to all 36 states and the F.C.T., and initiated two cluster support programs, including solar-powered machinery for agro-processing clusters. These milestones reflect our unwavering commitment to empowering women and driving sustainable economic growth across Nigeria.
How does WCCIMA’s mission align with the broader goals of economic empowerment for women in Nigeria?
WCCIMA’s mission directly aligns with Nigeria’s economic empowerment goals by fostering inclusivity and reducing the gender gap in commerce and industry. Women entrepreneurs are vital to the nation’s economic growth, and by providing them with tools like access to finance, market opportunities, and capacity-building programs, WCCIMA empowers them to scale their businesses. This contributes to job creation, wealth generation, and sustainable economic development across the country.—
How has membership grown over the past year, and what has been most effective in attracting new members?
Membership has grown steadily over the past year as we’ve designed programs tailored to the diverse needs of women entrepreneurs at various stages of their business journey. We also designed special cluster and business association membership packages, in addition to our corporate membership packages, in order to incorporate women at all levels into the chamber. We recognize that by supporting women through clusters, we can accelerate our impact. The goal at the end of the day is to leave no one behind.
Our ability and convening power to bring together government, financial institutions, and private-sector partners to support women entrepreneurs has demonstrated the value of belonging to a forward-thinking chamber like WCCIMA.
What strategic initiatives has WCCIMA launched to support women entrepreneurs?
One of the flagship initiatives, sponsored by the UNDP, is the Her-AfCFTA Project, which empowers women-led businesses to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. This program focuses on women in key sectors such as agriculture/agribusiness, cosmetics, and manufacturing, equipping them with the tools and resources to engage in intra-African trade.
We also introduced the HerFinance Accelerator Program, designed to enhance women entrepreneurs’ capacity to access funding opportunities. By strengthening their financial literacy and readiness, this initiative helps bridge the financing gap that women-led businesses often face.
Most recently, we launched the WCCIMA-NATEX (National Trade and Exchange) Program, which promotes intra-country trade, integrates women-owned businesses into export value chains, enhances market transparency, and facilitates affordable access to essential goods for our members.
These programs collectively reflect WCCIMA’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth and economic inclusion for women in business.
What advocacy efforts has WCCIMA undertaken to influence policy changes for women in commerce and industry?
WCCIMA has actively engaged in advocacy efforts by organizing roundtable discussions and policy dialogues with government agencies and stakeholders. For example, our recent roundtable on “Leveraging Associations for Advancing Women Entrepreneurs” brought together policymakers and women entrepreneurs to address structural barriers in commerce.
We have also collaborated closely with the United Nations Commission for Human Rights (UNHCR) to initiate advocacy dialogues focused on empowering women through economic inclusion and advancing human rights.
Through these efforts, we aim to eliminate barriers and create enabling environments for women entrepreneurs to thrive.
What role do partnerships play in WCCIMA’s strategy, and could you highlight some significant collaborations?
Collaboration is at the heart of WCCIMA’s strategy. We’ve partnered with organizations like UNDP, FMITI, UNHCR, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Integrity Organization, Surburban, Heinrich Böll Foundation, SOSAI Renewable Energy, KVP Project Nigeria, and others to amplify our impact. These collaborations allow us to leverage technical expertise and networks to implement programs that benefit our members. We also work very closely with embassies and the diplomatic community to foster bilateral trade for women entrepreneurs.
Through these partnerships, we ensure that the voices and needs of women entrepreneurs are heard and addressed in national and regional economic discussions, reinforcing our commitment to empowering women economically and positioning them as key players in commerce and industry.
What do you see as the most significant challenges facing women in commerce, industry, mines, and agriculture in Nigeria today? How does WCCIMA plan to address these challenges in the coming year?
Women in Nigeria face critical challenges, including limited access to finance, insufficient capacity-building opportunities, gender biases, and inadequate access to markets. WCCIMA leverages its four strategic pillars—Capacity Building, Access to Finance, Access to Markets, and Advocacy—to address these barriers and create a more inclusive business landscape.
Through Capacity Building, we provide training and mentorship tailored to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs. On the Access to Finance front, we are expanding financial literacy programs and strengthening partnerships with financial institutions to introduce funding solutions tailored to women-led businesses.
With Access to Markets, we are creating platforms to connect women entrepreneurs with buyers, exporters, and distributors. Meanwhile, our Advocacy efforts focus on driving policy reforms to address systemic gender biases and promote inclusive business environments.
By tackling these challenges head-on, WCCIMA reaffirms its role as a transformative force for women in commerce and industry, empowering them to overcome barriers and drive economic growth in Nigeria. We will continue to strengthen these initiatives and our support for women entrepreneurs in the coming year, we have an exciting line up of programs for 2025.
As the pioneer Director General of WCCIMA, what unique leadership qualities and strategies have you brought to establish the chamber as a transformative force for women entrepreneurs in its first year?
As the pioneer Director General of WCCIMA, my approach has been rooted in visionary leadership, collaboration, and adaptability. From the outset, I focused on establishing a solid foundation for the chamber by creating a clear mission and strategic roadmap aligned with our core pillars—Capacity Building, Access to Finance, Access to Markets, and Advocacy.
Recognizing that many organizations operate in silos, I prioritized collaboration as a key strategy. By fostering partnerships with key stakeholders, we’ve been able to pool resources, expertise, and networks to deliver programs that truly meet the needs of women entrepreneurs. This collaborative approach ensures that we’re not just creating opportunities but building ecosystems where women-led businesses can thrive sustainably.
I am deeply grateful to the leadership of NACCIMA, particularly its National President, Dele Kelvin Oye Esq., whose visionary leadership has created an enabling environment for WCCIMA to flourish. The unwavering support and guidance from NACCIMA have been instrumental in our achievements, allowing us to grow into a transformative force for women in commerce, industry, mines, and agriculture across Nigeria.
Through this collective effort, I have worked tirelessly to engage our members nationwide, ensuring that WCCIMA remains a unifying platform that bridges gaps and empowers women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. By promoting innovation, inclusivity, and resilience, we are breaking barriers and driving meaningful economic progress for women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.